Sheet feeding mechanism



1943- 1 c. J. MALHIOT 2,434,808

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed June 2, 1939 e Sheets-Sheet 1 a; INVENTOR. a: CLm-ence J. MqLhlo't I A TTORNEYS.

1943- c. J. MALHIOT 2,434,803

SHEET FEEDING MECHANI SM Original Filed June 2, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Ctqrence .J. Mal h'uot w ww w A TTORN E YS Jan. 20, 1948. c. J. MALHIOT 2,434,808

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Jan. 20, 1948.

c. J. MALHIOT SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed June 2, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIII INVENTOR. Clarence J. MaLhio't A TTORNEYS.

Jan. 20, 1948. c. J. MALHIOT SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed June 2, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. CLqrence J. Mollhio't ATTORNEYS. A

Patented Jam 20, 1948 2.434.808 sneer FEEDING MECHANISM Clarence J. Malhiot, Oak Park, Ill., asslgnor to F. B. Redington Co. Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Original application June 2, 1939, Serial No. at, 276,986. Divided and this application October 11, 1943, Serial No. 505,807

18 Claims. (01. 271-32) The present invention relates to a stamp, label or strip feeding mechanism and more particularly to such a mechanism for use in connection with gluing mechanism in applying a stamp, label or strip to a predetermined portion or end of an article or package. In prior devices of this character with which applicant is familiar, the erroneous withdrawal of more than one stamp, label or strip from the feed magazine or stack is rather commonly encountered. This erroneous feeding of more than one strip at a time interferes with the proper operation of the feeding mechanism, the gluing mecahnism and the package applying mechanism, and represents a considerable loss of moneyin the destruction of tax stamps when employed for the feeding and applying of tax stamps to packages such as packages of tobacco.

Another rather common failure of such prior devices is the failure of the withdrawing mechanism to withdraw a stamp, label or strip from the magazine, and this failure of the withdrawing mechanism means that packages are rather commonly passed through the wrapping machine without having a stamp, label or strip attached thereto, and such packages must either be refed through the wrapping machine or else discarded entirely.

' Other difiiculties encountered in feeding the strips past the gluing mechanism or rollers are due to the tendency of the stamps, labels or strips to adhere to the glue rolls or for other reasons to be torn or mispositioned in their feeding mechanism as they are brought into or past the gluing mechanism. this resulting in the destruction of the stamps, labels or strips, or the mispositioning of the same upon the article or package.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a mechanism for feeding stamps, labels or strips from a magazine or stack to a predetermined position for association with an article or package, and during such feeding to apply adhesive thereto, which mechanism is simple in construction and avoids the defects and insufiiciencies of the prior devices.

A further object of applicant's invention is to provide in a mechanism for feeding stamps, labels or strips, a mechanism of such character that a single stamp, label or strip. may be Withdrawn from a magazine or stack of the same and which mechanism includes means which positively acts to separate an adhering strip from the strip being withdrawn from the magazine or stack, but which means holds the formerly adhering strip 2 in 'position for reception by the withdrawal mechanism upon its next succeeding operation.

Applicant's invention further contemplates the provision of shiftable means which upon gripping of the outermost strip by the withdrawing mechanism, engages the next strip in the magazine and supports the stack of strips during the withdrawal of this outermost strip.

Another object of applicant's invention is .to provide in a strip-feeding mechanism means associated with the magazine for removing the weight of the stack from the strip being removed from the stack.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide in the strip-feeding mechanism comprising a strip-withdrawing suction head having a concave strip engaging surface, means for engaging the strip to be withdrawn to prevent the strip from sagging and thereby assuring its firm gripping by the suction head.

Applicants invention also contemplates the provision of means providing a floating support for the strips in the feed magazine, thereby to accommodate strips varying in dimension from the strip of normal size.

The claims of the present application are directed more particularly to the hopper structure, and to the associated mechanisms and feeding devices. Claims more particularly directed to the gluing mechanism and associated parts are presented in applicants parent applicatiomrserial No. 276,986, filed June 2, 1939, and entitled Stamp feeding and gluing mechanism, now issued as Patent No. 2,352,554, dated June 2'7, 1944, of which the present case is a division. While the feeding mechanism herein set forth is particularly adapted for use with gluing mechanism, as disclosed, it is to be understood that the feeding and strip handling mechanisms of the present invention are also adapted for general utility, and may be utilized in connection with various mechanisms and for various purposes. Accord ingly, among the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved handling and feeding mechanism for stamps, labels, strips, or other sheets, of improved construction and operation, and which may be adapted for use with various mechanisms, and for various purposes.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a stamp feeding mechanism and an associated gluing mechanism, em-

bodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view in elevation of the mechanism of Fig. 1 taken from the right of said Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective illustrating the withdrawal of a stamp from a stack of stamps.

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of the mechanism of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken along lines 6-6 of Fig 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken along the line 'l--l of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken along the line 88 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a iragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 5.

Figs, 10, 11 and 12 are complementary detail views in perspective of the mounting and suctionsuppiy members for each suction head, portions of these members being cut away in the views for purposes of illustration Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken substantially along the line iii-13 of Fig. 6.

Fig, 14 is afragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line i i-id of Fig. 6.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view in vertical elevation of the stamp supporting and stripping blocks mounted at the bottom of the stamp magazine.

Figs. 16, 17, 18 and 19 are fragmentary views illustrating the operation of the means controlling the connection between the vacuum source and the suction heads, Figs. 18 and 19 being sections taken along the lines l8--l8 and l-i9 of Figs. 16 and 17 respectively.

Figs. 20 and 21 are fragmentary views in elevation illustrating the operation of the suction heads in removing stamps from the magazine and depositing them on the feed table.

Fig, 2-2 is a fragmentary view in vertical elevation taken substantially along the line 22-22 of Fig. 1, with a portion of the stamp supplying magazine and one suction head being broken away for purposes of illustration.

As shown in the drawings, the frame or base of the machine is provided with an upstanding web 2 (Figs. 1, 3 and 5) to which is secured as by screws i the rear wall plate 5 of a hopper or magazine 8. The hopper 8 comprises in addition to the rear plate 6 a pair of plates l9 generally L-shaped in cross section and secured to the opposite vertical edges of the plate 6 as by the screws l2. The plates IE form the sides and the open front wall of the magazine ii. The inner wall surface of the rear plate 6 is tapered or bevelled inwardly as at M to facilitate the manual insertion of relatively elongated stamps, labels or similar strips such as may be desired to apply to articles or packages. The inner surfaces of each inwardly directed flange I6 of the plates ill, which flanges form the open front of the magazine, in a downward direction tapers outwardly as shown in Fig. 2 to permit outward deflection of a flexible strip 18 secured to the flanges i6 adjacent the upper edges as by rivet 20. The strips l8 provide deflectable wall surfaces for accommodating stamps which vary in width within the usual tolerances permitted in the production of such stamps so that the stamps of greater width will not be marred or torn when being moved between two unyielding surfaces spaced apart a distance less than the width of these wider stamps, and. at the same time means are provided for preventing sidewise shifting of the stamp in the d stack within the magazine. The strips it also provide means for yieldably mounting a pair of stamp supporting blocks 22 riveted or otherwise secured to the lower edges of the strips i8. Each of the blocks 22 is urged in an inward direction by a coil spring 26 acting on the block 22 through a bowed strip 26 secured or fulcrumed at its upper end to a flange It by a. pin 28 and pressing at its lower end against the block 22. Each spring 24 is carried by a. pin 30 passing through the strip 26 and secured to the flange it, the spring 24 being interposed between the strip 26 and a tension adjusting screw 32 on the pin 36. A similar pair of stack-supporting blocks 3% are rigidly secured'to the bottom of the rear wall plate 6 as by screws 36 and are aligned with the stack-supporting blocks 22. The inner surfaces,

of the stamp-supporting blocks 22 and 8d are serrated as at 38 to facilitate bowing of the end portions of the bottom stamp under the action of the stamp withdrawing means as seen in Fig. 20, to cause fluttering of a second stamp in the stack which, during withdrawal of the bottom stamp may tend to adhere to the latter, thereby to break the second stamp loose from the stamp being withdrawn and to. retain the loosened stamp in the magazine as shown in Fig. 15 until the stamp withdrawing means again reaches a position to withdraw such stamp from the magazine.

The hopper or magazine is also provided with a pair of auxiliary stack-supporting pins comprising pointed set screws dil (Fig. 22) adjustably mounted in the side forming flanges of the plates ill a given distance above the blocks 22 and St.

The set screws 68 are held in adjustable position by clamp nuts 62, The pointed ends of the pins or set' screws (iii roject between the ends of certain adjacent ones of the stamps in the stack and support the stack of stamps thereabove. The weight of the stack of stamps above the pins illl'causes the stamps immediately above the pins to sag centrally as shown in Fig. 22, and as stamps are withdrawn from below the pins, the weight of the stamps causes these sagging stamps to pass the pins id. The pins id also act to prevent the application of the weight of the stack to the opposite end portions of the stamps below and thereby facilitate bowing of the opposite end portions of the bottom stamp when the same is withdrawn from the magazine.

The stamp withdrawing or removing means preferably comprises a pair of suction heads or blocks dd (Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 20 to 22) the blocks having concave upper stamp engaging surfaces 416 (Fig. 5) and being spaced apart to engage the opposite end portions of the stamps as seen in Figs. 4 and 22. The suction heads id are mounted on the outer ends of parallel levers 38 which at their opposite ends are journalled on a stud shaft or bolt 50 (Figs. 1 and 5) and secured to operating yoke 52, also journalled on the stud shaft or bolt 50. The stud shaft 56 is mounted in a boss 54 (Fig. 1) formed on the web 56 of the frame portion 58. The yoke 52 is oscillated to move the suction heads between the stamp feed magazine 8 and a stamp receiving and. guiding plate 60 (Figs, 1, 3, 5, 6, '7, 8, 13, 14, and 21) by an operating link-B2 (Fig. 5) driven by any suitable and convenient mechanism in proper time relation to the feeding mechanism subsequently to be described, which feeds the stamps along the plate Gil.

Air is supplied to and withdrawn from the vertical openings 66 in each suction head through a transverse port 86 in the suction head and a longitudinally extending port or passage 88 (Figs. and 22) in its mounting lever 48. The longitudinal port or passage 68 at its inner end communicates with a transverse suction port or passage I8 and by a vertical passage I2 with a trans- ,verse suction breaking port or passage I4. Connection of the suction port I8 to a vacuum pump or vacuum source not shown and the connection of the suction breaking port or passage 14 to the atmosphere is controlled by a valve mechanism I6 (Fig. 11) which comprises a lever I8 (Figs. 1, 5, 11 and 16 to 19) extending parallel to each lever 48 and interposed between its associated lever 48 and aconnecting block 88 to which the source of vacuum is connected as by the flexible pipe or tube 82. Each lever I8 is journalled at one end on the stud shaft 58 and adjacent its other end is provided with a transverse port or passage 84 (Figs. 11, 18 and 19) which when the lever 48 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 18 connects the suction port I8 to the port or passage 86 which latter port is connected to the suction pipe 82 by the port or passage 88. The connecting block 88 is mounted on the spaced pins 98 carried by the lever 48 which pins are spaced apart a sufficient distance to receive therebetween the valve lever I8 and to permit the required movement of this valve lever relative to the lever 48. The valve lever I8 is frictionally held against movement relative to the lever 48, thereby to cause the valve lever to move with the lever 48 during the movement of the latter by coil springs 92 (Figs. 1, 18 and 19) embracing the pins 88 and interposed between the outer face of the connecting block 88 and washers 84 held on the pins 98 by the cotter pins 86 (Figs, 5, 17 and 18).

Relative movement between each valve lever 78 and its associatelever 48 to position the levers as shown in Fig. 19, wherein the suction breaking port 14 is connected to atmosphere by the space between the lever 48 and the block 88 below the valve lever I8, is effected by an adjustable stationary set screw or bolt 98 (Figs. 5 and 16) which, as the lever 48 approaches its lower limit of movement, engages 3, depending lug I88 formed on the valve lever I8 (Figs. 5, 11 and 16). The screw 98 is carried by a plate or bracket I82 secured to or formed upon a post or bar I84 secured to any suitable fixed portion of the machine frame. Each valve lever I8 is also provided with an upwardly projecting lug I86 which is adapted to engage tn adjustable stationary set screw or bolt I88 (Fig. 17) as its associate lever approaches its upward limit of movement to cause relative movement between these levers to bring them into the position shown in Fig. 18, wherein as previously described the suction port I8 is connected by the valve port 84 and the ports in the connecting block 88 to the suction intake pipe 82. The controlling set screw I88 for the valve lever I8 shown at the lower portion of Fig. 1 is carried by the inwardly turned end I I8 (Figs. 1 and 17) of the post I84, while the controlling set screw for the other valve lever I8 is carried by the bracket II2 fastened to the web 56 of the machine frame.

Cooperating with the suction heads 44 to withdraw the lowermost stamp from the stack are a stamp-straightening and stack-supporting bar H4 and stack-supporting fingers IIB (Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 22). The stamp straightening and stack-supporting bar II4 moves upwardly and downwardly with the suction heads 44 and for ating yoke 52'as by a mounting screw H8 and an adjusting set screw I28 carried by the bar H4,

so that the bar may be adjusted relative to the yoke properly to position the opposite end of the bar relative to the aligned concave surfaces 46 of the suction heads. The lowermost stamp both by reason of the weight of its unsupported portion between the opposed sets of supporting blocks 22 and 34 and by reason of the weight of the superposed stack of stamps tends to sag. It requires a much greater force to effect the bending' or bowing of an elongated stamp or strip which is curved or bent longitudinally than is required to bend Or bow a stamp which lies fiat in a longtiudinal plane. Therefore such sagging of the stamp tends to prevent the withdrawal of the stamp under the action of the concave suction heads. When the suction heads 44 are brought to their uppermost position to engage the opposite end portions of the lowermost stamp. of the stack, the free end of the bar II4 engages the stamp to be withdrawn at its center as shown in Fig. 22 to straighten this stamp and to support the stack during the time that the opposite endportions of the stamp are being sucked into engagement with the concave surfaces of the suction heads.

The stack supporting fingers IIB project inwardly from opposed bars I22 (Figs. 3, 5 and 22), extending vertically on opposite sides of the magazine 8, each bar I22 being adjustably mounted within an elongated recess or groove I24 (Fig. 3) of a lever I28. The levers I26 are secured at their upper ends to stud shafts I28 and I38 (Figs. 1, 3 and 5), joumalled in bosses I32 formed on the web 2 of the machine frame. The shafts I28 and I38 are interconnected for simultaneous oscillation in opposite directions by a link I 34 (Figs. 1 and 3) pivotally secured at its opposite ends to oppositely extending cranks I38 and I38 secured respectively to the stud shafts I 28 and I38. Operation of the shaft I38 and consequent simultaneous operation of the shaft I28 is effected by driven link I48 pivotally connected to the outer end of a. crank I 42 secured to the shaft I38, the link being driven by any suitable mechanism in proper timed relation to the link 62 (Fig. 5) so that the stack-supporting fingers II6 will be moved inwardly to project between the concave end portions of the stamp being withdrawn and the next stamp in the stack as shown in Fig. 4, thereby to remove the weight of the stack from the stamp being removed to insure that the lowermost stamp will be withdrawn by the suction head and to prevent withdrawal of a second stamp which might tend to adhere to the stamp being withdrawn in a region between the suction heads.

It should be'noted that in being withdrawn from the stack, the stamps pass across the serrated surfaces 38 of the stack-supporting blocks 22 and 34, and these serrated surfaces will cause the edges of the stamps to flutter, which flutterin action will separate the upper stamp from a lower stamp if the opposite ends of two stamps are simultaneously sucked onto the suction heads so that the stack-supporting fingers pass between the second and third stamps of the stack, rather than between the first and second stamps of the stack. The serrated surfaces also, following separation of the second stamp fromthe stamp being properly fed, by engagement with the edges of the stamp (as shown in Fig. 15) retain the second stamp in position between the sets of stamp-supporting blocks 22 and 34 so that upon juxtaposition to the next upward movement of the suction heads, this stamp will be withdrawn.

In moving downwardly with the suction heads 44, the stamp straightening bar II4 remains in engagement with the central portion of the stamp, thereby maintaining the stamp fiat or straight during this movement of the stamp from the stack to the stamp receiving and guiding plate 60, and preventing the sagging of the stamp and the consequent release from the suction heads. The bar II4 as it moves downwardly passes at its forward edge through a recess I44 (Figs. 1, '7 and 8) in the forward edge of the plate 60.

The suction heads 44 and the bar II4 deposit the stamp on an upper surface of the plate 66 in the path of movement of a pair of pusher bars or feed fingers I46 (Figs. 1, 5, 7, 8 and 13). The pusher bars I46 are slidably received in grooves I48 in the pate 60 and are secured at their rear ends to a boss I50 formed on a slide block I52 (Figs; 1 and 22) slidably mounted on fixed bars I54 and I56. The slide block I52 is provided with a depending bifurcated portion or arm I58 (Figs. and 22) between the furcations of which is received a slide block I60 pivotally secured to the upper end of an operating lever I62 driven by any suitable mechanism in proper timed relation to the lever 62 so that immediately following the depositing of a stamp on the plate 60 by the suction heads 34, the forward feeding movement of the pusher bars I46 will be initiated.

The plate 60 forms the top wall of a glue pot I64 (Figs. 1, 3, 5, 6, '7, 8, 13 and 14) providing spaced chambers I66 connected by a cross chamber I61, for receiving a supply of adhesive to be applied to the stamps by rollers I68 secured to the shaft I journalled in the opposite side walls I12 and connected by the conventional coupling I14 to a continuously driven shaft I16, the shaft I'III being driven at such a predetermined speed that the peripheral speed of the glue app ying rollers I68 is substantially equal to the speed at which the stamps are fed forwardly by the )pusher bars I46 and onto these glue rollers. Each glue roller IE8 is providedwith an annular groove I18 forming axially spaced peripheral portions for a purpose which will presently appear.

A scraper I80 (Figs. '7, 8 and 14) for each glue roller provides forwardly and downwardly projecting portions I82 receiving the glue roller therebetween to remove the adhesive from the side surfaces of the roll. Forwardly projecting lug the is received in the annular groove I'IB of the glue roller and the forward edges of .the scraper between the lugs I82 and I8 5 are in close the periphery of the glueroller so as to remove any excess adhesive from the peripheral surfaces of the roller and to determine the thickness of the adhesive film applied by the roller to the stamps. The scrapers I80 are mounted on sleeves I86, of which one only is shown in the drawing, secured to a shaft I88 journalled in the opposed side walls I12 of the glue pot, which shaft is provided externally of the glue pot with an adjusting crank I90 through the outer end of which passes a pin I92 carrying a thumb screw led by which the crank I90 may be adjusted upwardly and downwardly with the pin I92, the coil spring I96 retaining the crank in adjusted position. By adjustment of the thumb screw let the scraper blades may be moved toward and from the glue roller, thereby to predetermine the thickness of the adhesive coating applied by the rollers I68.

a laterally extending projection 208 carrying an adjustable set screw ZIII which is. adapted to engage the forward wall 203 of the glue pot to space the cover a desired distance from the plate 6!! and the wall 204 about this portion of the periphery of the glue roller.

The under surface. of each cover I98, particularly in the region of the curved portion 2, (Fig. 5) is provided with grooves 2 I2 as shown in Fig. 6 overlying the axially spaced peripheral portions of the glue roller so that the cover may be adjusted in relatively close juxtaposition to the surface of the glue roller and thereby maintain each stamp in engagement with the glue roller, while at the same time having the surface of the cover overlying the adhesive carrying surfaces of the glue roller spaced therefrom such a distance that adhesive will not be applied to or collect upon the cover plate.

The pusher bars or feed fingers I46 in conveying the stamps from the suction heads at to the gluing mechanism pass through slots 2M in the covers. A plate 2H3, fastened to a web 2M3 of each cover and to the inner edge of the cover, serves to augment the guiding action of the cover plate I98.

From the pusher bar I46 each stamp is received and fed in an arcuate path past the glue rollers by a pair of star wheels 220 (Figs. 3, 6, 7 and 13), secured to the shaft I10 and driven thereby at substantially the same peripheral speed as the rollers I68. The stamps will therefore be fed in this arcuate path without movement relative to the periphery of the glue rollers so that there will be no retarding or speeding up of the stamps by the glue rollers, and there will be no piling up of adhesive adjacent one or the other edge of the stamp or any flowing of the adhesive around an edge of the stamp onto its outer surface. The pusher bars I 36 feed the stamps to a position on the plate 68 in the path of movement of the radially projecting lugs 222 of the star wheels 22!], the plate 60 being slotted to permit the star wheels 2%- to pass therethrough and engage the stamps in the plane of the upper surface of this plate. The star wheels 22d are mounted within a separate chamber formed in the glue pot between the adhesive reservoirs I66 (Fig. 6) and it should be noted that the central portion of the plate 60 forms the top wall of this compartment to support and guide the stamp during its feeding movement to the star wheels and to the forward wall portion. 223 (Fig. 3) along which the stamp is fed vertically by the star wheels. The covers I98 also overlie the star wheels 22!! in paced relation to the plate 60 and are recessed to receive the feeding lugs 222 of the star wheels. Ihe star wheels 220 feed the stamps into the path of movement of a pair of vertically shiftable pusher bars or The glue pot we is provided with the cover feed fingers 224 (Figs. 3, 5, 7, 8,13 and 14) which pass through slots 226 in the outer end walls of the covers I98 and grooves 228 in the outer end walls 265 of the glue pot to move the stamps from the star wheels 220 along a path extending tangentially to the peripheries of the glue rollers M38. The pusher bars or feed fingers 2243 are 9 secur d at their upper ends to an arm 230 (Figs. 1, 3 and 5) in turn secured to a block 232 as by an angle iron 234, the block 232 being in turn fastened to an operating rod 236 slidably mounted in the spaced horizontal arms 238 of the bracket 240 fastened to the web 2 of the machine frame. In order to prevent swinging of the arm 230, the block'232 extends rearwardly from the rod 236 and adjacent its rear end carries a guide rod 242 slidably mounted in the arms 238 of the bracket 240. The rod 236 is driven by any conventional mechanism in proper timed relation to the pusher bars I46 and the star wheels 220 so as to engage each stamp as it reaches the end of its arcuate path'under the feeding action of the star wheels 220. The usher bars or feed fingers 224 move each stamp from the gluing mechanism onto a package feed table 244 (Fig. 14)v between an advancing package 246 and a pair of laterally spaced blocks 248 between which the advancing package is fed, the blocks 248 thereby acting to press the stamp into adhering ngagement with the end of the package and to fold the ends of the stamp into adhering engagement with opposed sides of the package.

The operation of the illustrated stamp feeding and gluing mechanism will be apparent from the foregoing description. Such operation may, however, be briefly summarized as follows:

As the suction heads 44 are moved upwardly and downwardly to withdraw the lowermost stamp from the stack of stamps in the magazine 8, the horizontal pusher bars or feed fingers I46 move forwardly and backwardly to feed the previously withdrawn stamp to the star wheels 22!]. When th uction heads 44 reach their lowermost position and deposit the withdrawn stamp on the receiving and guiding plate 60, the pusher bars 946 move forwardly from their rearmost position to engage and feed the stamp to the star wheels 22!] as previously stated. During upward and downward movement of the suction 'heads, the adjustable screws 98 and W8 engage the lugs of the valve levers l8 and cause relative movement between these valve levers and the levers E8 50 as to connect the suction heads to the source of vacuum when the levers 48 reach their upper position and to connect the suction heads to atmosphere when the levers 48 reach their lower positions.

The lugs 222 of the star wheels 220 engage the stamps and feed them in an arcuate path concentric to the axis of the glue rollers and at a speed substantially equal to the peripheral speed of the glue rollers so that during application of adhesive to the stamps, there is no relative movement between the stamps and the glue rollers. It should be noted that the stamps are fed to the glue rollers along a path extending tangentially to the peripheries of the glue rollers so that there will be no warping of the stamps by the rollers, nor accumulation of excessive adhesive at the forward edges of the stamps. As the star wheels blocks 22 and 34 cooperate with the concave suction heads 44 to insure the withdrawal of a stamp upon each downward movement of the suction head and to prevent withdrawal of more than one stamp at a time from the magazine 8 has been previously described and need not be repeated.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In a mechanism for feeding labels or strips from a stack, shiftabie suction heads propelled simultaneously and having spaced aligned surfaces engaging spaced portions of an outermost strip of the stack, means movable with said heads engaging the stripbetween said surfaces as the strip is engaged thereby for straightening the strip to insure proper engagement of the strip by the aligned surfaces of said suction heads, means for shifting said suction heads to and from the stack of strips, and means for connecting said suction heads to a source of vacuum when the aligned surfaces engage the outermost strip of the stack and for breaking the suction to said heads when said strip has been withdrawn from the stack.

2. In a mechanism for feeding labels or strips from a stack, shiftable means having spaced aligned strip gripping surfaces adapted to engage spaced portions of an outermost strip of the stack, a shiftable member adapted to engage said strip between said surfaces and in the plane thereof as the strip is engaged by the surfaces for straightening the strip to insure proper engagement of the strip by said aligned surfaces, and means for simultaneously shifting said shiftabie means and said shiftabie member into engagement with theoutermost strip of the stack and then in the opposite direction to withdraw the strip from the stack.

3. In a mechanism for feeding stamps or similar strips from a stack, shiftable suction heads propelled as a unit and having spaced substantially coplanar aligned surfaces adapted to engage and grip spaced portions of an outermost strip of the stack a shiftabie member adapted to engage said strip between said surfaces and in the plane thereof as the strip is engaged by the surfaces for straightening the strip to insure gripping engagement of the strip by the aligned surfaces of said suction heads, and means for simultaneously shifting said suction heads and said shiftabie member first into engagement with the outermost strip of the stack and then in the opposite direction to withdraw the strip from the stack.

4. In a mechanism for feeding stamps or similar labels from a stack, shiftabie suction heads propelled as a unit and having spaced aligned surfaces adapted to engage and grip opposed end portions of the lowermost stamp of the stack, a shiftabie member adapted to engage said stamp substantially midway between said surfaces for straightening the stamp and supporting the stack when said stamp is engaged by said aligned surfaces of the suction heads, means for simultaneously shifting said suction heads and said shiftabie member into engagement with the lowermost stamp of the stack and then in the opposite direction to withdraw said stamp from the stack, and means engageable with the withdrawn stamp between the suction heads and said member for feeding the stamp therefrom in a lateral direction.

V of the stack, a shiftable bar adapted to engage said stamp between said concave surfaces for straightening the stamp longitudinally to insure transverse bending of the stamp by said suction heads into gripping engagement with the aligned concave surfaces of the said suction heads, and means for simultaneously shifting said suction heads and said bar first into engage- Y ment with therbo'ttom stamp of the stack to cause the suction heads to grip said stamp and then in the opposite direction to withdraw the stamp from the stack.

6. In a mechanism for feeding stamps or similar labels, a magazine receiving a stack of stamps, shiftable suction heads having a pair of spaced concave surfaces adapted to engage and grip the opposed end portions of the bottom stamp of the stack, said magazine having relatively adjacent the bottom thereof opposed inwardly directed roughened projections. forming supports for the opposed edges of the stack of stamps above said projections, the width of the concave surfaces of the suction heads being substantially equal to the spacing between cooperative projections, whereby the weight of the stack of stamps above said projections being imposed on the stamps supported by said projections causes the stamps at the bottom of the stack to be concavely shaped and conform to the engaging surfaces of said heads.

7. In a mechanism for feeding elongated stamps or similar strips from a stack, shiftable means having spaced curved surfaces adapted to engage and grip opposed portions of the first strip of the stack to impart a transverse concave curvature thereto and to separate said opposed portions of the first strip from the second strip of the stack and oppositely shiftable members movable substantially parallel to the axis of curvature of said surfaces into the concave space between the separated portions of the first and second strips and into engagement with the second strip for preventing withdrawal of the second strip with the first strip, and means for driving said shiftable means and members in predetermined timed relationship.

8. In a mechanism for feeding stamps or similar strips from a stack, shiftable suction heads having concave surfaces adapted to engage and grip opposed end portions of the first strip'of the stack, means for shifting said suction heads first toward said stack of stamps into engagement with the first stamp and then in the opposite direction to withdraw the stamp from the stack, means for applying a suction pressure to the suction heads when brought into engagement with the first stamp of the stack to cause the end portions of the stamps to bend outwardly to assume a concave form conforming to the concave surfaces of the suction heads, and oppositely shiftable members movable substantially parallel to the axis of curvature of said heads into the space between the concave end portions of the first stamp and the end portions of the second stamp of the stack for preventing withdrawal of the second stamp with the first stamp.

9. In a sheet feeding mechanism, a hopper for supporting a plurality of sheets in superposed relation, said hopper having a relatively smooth shiftable side wall portion automatically positioned by the stack of sheets, cyclically operable suction head means for engaging and withdrawing the end sheet from the hopper, and support means associated with the hopper carried by said shiftable side wall and providing a roughened surface across which the sheets are moved as they are withdrawn from the hopper, whereby to insure that only a single sheet will be withdrawn by said cyclically operable suction head means.

I 10. In a sheet feeding mechanism, a hopper adapted to support a plurality of sheets in superposed relation, said hopper having at the bottom thereof means for supporting the sheets within the hopper, sheet separating means associated with the sheet supporting means, and said hopper also having at a point spaced slightly upwardly from the bottom thereof a pair of inwardly directed projections for supporting the weight of the sheets above said projections and for relieving the weight of such sheets upon the bottom support means, cyclically operable means engageable with the lowermost sheet in the hopper for successively removing sheets from the hopper and for depositing them at a point of delivery, and a laterally shiftable support member shiftable to and from supporting position at the bottom of said stack in timed relation to the movements of said cyclically operable means.

11. In a mechanism for feeding labels or strips from a stack, shiftable means having spaced aligned strip gripping surfaces for engaging spaced portions of an endmost strip of the stack,

shiftable means to withdraw said strip from the stack.

12. In a sheet feeding mechanism, a hopper structure for holding a plurality of sheets in superposed relation, 8, pivotally mounted suction head engageable with an end sheet in said hopper and operable to withdraw the sheet from the hopper and deposit it at a point of delivery, and valve means operable in timed relation with the movement of said head for controlling the suction action thereof, said valve means comprising a pair of pivoted cooperable valve members mounted substantially coaxial with the suction head and shiftable with the head, and abutment means engaged by one of the valve members as the head reaches a predetermined position for controlling the action of said valve means.

13. In a sheet feeding mechanism, a hopper structure for holding a plurality of sheets in superposed relation, a suction head engageable with an end sheet in said hopper and operable to withdraw the sheet from the hopper and de posit it at a point of delivery, and valve means operable in timed relation with the movement of said head for controlling the suction action thereof, said valve means comprising a pair of valve members resiliently urged toward each other and movable with the head, a third valve member disposed between said pair of valve members and frictionally held in position thereby, and abutment means engaged by the third valve member as the head reaches a predetermined shifted position, whereby to control the action of said valve means.

' aligned surfaces, and means for shifting said shiftable means to withdraw said strip from the,

stack.

15. In a mechanism for feeding stamps or strips, a magazine for receiving a stack of strips, a shiftable suction head having a surface concave in respect to one axis of the strip adapted to engage and grip the bottom strip of the stack within said magazine, and said magazine having adjacent the bottom thereof opposed inwardly directed roughened projections on theopposite sides of said axis forming supports for the opposed edges of the stack of strips above said projections, the concave curvature of said suction head and said roughened projections cooperating to facilitate the bending and separation of the strips as they are withdrawn from the magazine by said suction head.

16. In a mechanism for feeding stamps or 18. In a sheet feeding mechanism, a hopperadapted to support a stack of sheets in superposed relation, said hopper having a relatively open bottom provided with a yieldable sheet supporting portion, said hopper also being provided with a shiftable side wall extending along the major vertical length of the hopperto which said yieldable support portion is secured, said side wall being positioned by the stack of sheets, means normally urging said support portion to a position to support the sheets within the hopper, and cyclically operable means engageable with the bottom sheet in the hopper for withdrawing sheets successively from the hopper and for transmitting them to a point of delivery, said yieldable support portion having a roughened surface across which the sheets are moved by the withdrawing" means as they are withdrawn from the hopper whereby to insure that only a single sheet will be withdrawn from the hopper upon each operation of said withdrawing means.

strips, a magazine for receiving a stack of strips,

a shiftable suction head having a surface concave in respect to one axis of the strip adapted to engage and grip the bottom strip of the stack within said magazine, and a pair of opposed fingers on opposite sides of the magazine and reciprocable substantially parallel to and along said axis for periodically supporting the stack of strips within the magazine, the concave curvature of the suction head cooperating with said fingers to effect the sequential withdrawal of single strips from the bottom of said stack.

17.- In a sheet feeding mechanism, a hopper adapted to support a stack of sheets in super posed relation, said hopper being provided with a relatively open bottom having a yieldable support portion, said hopper also being provided with v a shiftable side wall extending along the major CLARENCE J. MALHIOT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,318,540 Cameron Oct. 14, 1919 1,283,659 Cameron Nov. 5, 1918 1,196,676 Gray Aug. 29, 1916 1,522,717 Frost Jan. 13, 1925 1,392,750 Fink Oct. 4, 1921 1,218,034 Young Mar. 6, 1917 2,335,064 Kabel Nov. 23, 1943 1,395,232 Kronquest ....Oct. 25, 1921 1,953,761 Krug et a1 Apr. 3, 1934 1,395,207 Robinson et al Oct. 25, 1921 1,236,181 Kast Aug. 7, 1917 920,698 Wagner et al May 4, 1909 2,336,499 Murch et al Dec. 14, 1943 1,689,756 Swangren Oct. 30, 1928 1,335,556 'Clark Mar. 30, 1920 1,805,336 Kowal May 12, 1931 937,807 Hodge Oct. 26, 1909 920,154 Kent May 4, 1909 1,001,926 Briggs Aug. 29, 1911 989,103 Amidon Apr. 11, 1911 1,425,350 Thom Aug. 8, 1922 1,514,633 Schmidt Nov. 11, 1924 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 669,730 Germany Jan. 2, 1939 479,894 Great Britain Feb. 14, 1938 

